Next May we will be riding round the Baltic. The shortest route from Riga into the part of Poland we hope to visit is through the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad. Is this a hassle or should we accept the extra forty miles and go direct from Latvia into Poland on the A8?
Latvia to Poland - Kaliningrad?
- Thread starter Kritou
- Start date
Excuse me?
You're riding around the Baltic and worried about 40 extra miles?
Who are you? Ian Wright?
Greg
You're riding around the Baltic and worried about 40 extra miles?
Who are you? Ian Wright?
Greg
We have been recommended accomodation at N 53 54.728 E021 51.112 before heading west so will be staying north and west of Vilnius and Warsaw
I wouldn't go there. Kaliningrad has something of a reputation as a centre for organised crime.
I very much doubt that any UK insurer will cover you to ride there either.
Ride the extra miles and stay within the EU.
I very much doubt that any UK insurer will cover you to ride there either.
Ride the extra miles and stay within the EU.
wessie said:
Thanks - will do
wessie said:
Mmmmm... I wouldn't let tales of dangerous places put me off going where I wanted to go... unless there was a civil war ranging.
If we'd listened to the Poles, the Belarus, the Russians, the Mongolians, the Kazaks, the Kyrgiz, Uzbeks, Turkmenistan people, the Azerbeijans, the Georgians, the Turks, the Croats and the Bosnians... ALL telling tales of murder and robbery by their neighbouring country, and suggesting that on no account should we go there, and the people back home, we'd have only gone to Whitby for fish and chips!
We have as high a rate of motorbike theft here in England as anywhere, my neighbour was mugged one Sunday morning going for a newspaper, and a few weeks ago my son's mates mother was murdered in her house in broad daylight.
Go where the heart takes you...
Gilbert
Guest
I traveled there this summer, the problem with Kaliningrad is the fact that it is Russian. Insurance is one thing, and the need for a Visa is another. The ~100 euros you would have paid for the Visa gets you fed and accomodated, and also pays the gas for the extra miles you make in Lithuania and Poland. I also think there is an issue with the Russians not letting bikes in on all bordercontrols so you may have to drive to certain places to get you in and out of Kaliningrad so i opted to go around it. While you are in the neighbourhood i would suggest a visit to both the Curonian Spit and the Hill of crosses near the city of Siauliai. I have some pictures from my trip here: http://users.jorn.nu/gilbert/baltic/
Gilbert said:
Just goes to show... we didn't have a problem with Russia, the border controls or the police. We were met with smiles, handshakes, hospitality and warmth wherever we went! We bought their insurance at the border, got the visa's before we went. I fell in love with Russia and her people and wanna go back... and probably will do
Micky
spot
Registered user
Is there any one with more info about kaliningrad? I definately want to go there this summer if its sensible. Has anyone driven up the cuonian spit to lithuania? Is the border there ok?
andy1200
Guest
I lived in Poland for 11 years and my wife comes from Bartoszyce, the last town before the Kalingrad border. I've ridden up to have a look when staying with the in-laws (at the border and also the old roads that no longer cross where the border disects what were once joined up communities) but have not crossed over since I've never had the time.
It is, partly for the above reasons, a place I'd love to go and will one day.
My advice as someone who went round most of the region in the wild days of the early 1990s would be to ignore the prophets of doom, put up with the likely border delays and go for it. Chances are you'll see things that the average tourist hasn't yet.
My understanding is that recently they've started to open up so now is the time.
As in most of the region (including Poland) try and find secure parking if you stay the night (tip: you can often negotiate to park in the secure parking of a well-guarded swanky hotel even if you don't stay there).
PM me if you want anything else, including places to take in en route (Malbork, Grunwald, Treblinka are kind of on the way down to Warsaw and there are some less obvious things to see as well)
PS Check out the section on Speeding in Poland on www.roadmc.com OK, I contributed it ....
Cheers
Andy
It is, partly for the above reasons, a place I'd love to go and will one day.
My advice as someone who went round most of the region in the wild days of the early 1990s would be to ignore the prophets of doom, put up with the likely border delays and go for it. Chances are you'll see things that the average tourist hasn't yet.
My understanding is that recently they've started to open up so now is the time.
As in most of the region (including Poland) try and find secure parking if you stay the night (tip: you can often negotiate to park in the secure parking of a well-guarded swanky hotel even if you don't stay there).
PM me if you want anything else, including places to take in en route (Malbork, Grunwald, Treblinka are kind of on the way down to Warsaw and there are some less obvious things to see as well)
PS Check out the section on Speeding in Poland on www.roadmc.com OK, I contributed it ....
Cheers
Andy
spot
Registered user
Greg the route posted by you above seems to go through belarus. Howmuch hassle was that? I would love to nip into belarus for a day or so. I have given up on Kaliningrad, I dont like the Russian embassy visa section, If they want to be arseholes then they arent having my money!
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